Birthday for mental facility

Art Nadler

Tuesday, Nov. 19, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Building 1300 has celebrated its 25th birthday.

Political officials, mental-health administrators and a few residents showed up for the silver anniversary party Monday.

Building 1300, the cornerstone of the Desert Regional Center at 1300 S. Jones Blvd., has since spawned 10 additional residential facilities around its perimeter.

A lot has happened over the years, since 50 Southern Nevada mentally challenged children and adults returned home on Nov. 18, 1971, from the Nevada Mental Health Institute in Sparks.

Today, 91 mentally challenged residents occupy the apartment-like buildings originally designed to house 88 people. They learn to dress themselves, keep their bedrooms in order, clean house and cook using in-house kitchens. During the day, they work at various jobs around Las Vegas.

"The emphasis now is not to institutionalize these people, but to mainstream them into the community," said Neil Crowley, residential director. "Our goal is to have 100 percent of these people not here. We want them to live in the community and to go to jobs everyday."

There is a 23-month waiting list of mentally challenged people who want to get into the Desert Regional Center. Additionally, 120 individuals are waiting to be placed in a job program.

"Waiting lists are unfortunately the theme for Southern Nevada," Crowley said.

StanLee Dodd, regional director of the division of Mental Hygiene and Mental Retardation, agrees. His office will be asking the Legislature in January for $1.6 million to place 174 people in jobs over the next two years. He'll also be seeking $4 million for that same period to house 130 people in various community residencies.

"We will still have people who won't be served until after the year 2000," Dodd said.

"The un-met need is tremendous in Southern Nevada," said Carlos Brandenburg, administrator for the state Division of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. "Most of it has been driven by the unbelievable growth down here.

"We need to prove to the community that these programs are productive and cost effective. We'll be putting all our resources into jobs, training and community placement (for mentally challenged individuals)."